Wolves 0 Ajax 3 (Banel 37, 55, Chourak 65)
Wolves under-21s were beaten by Ajax in the Premier League’s International Cup at Molineux on Wednesday evening.
In their first game at Molineux this season, two goals from Jaydon Banel outshone the home team as they failed to overcome Ajax’s youth side, despite an invaluable occasion of playing under the lights at the golden palace.
James Collins made three changes to his side that drew 1-1 with Leicester City last time out as Caden Voice, Finn Ashworth and Luke Cundle all entered the starting 11.
Wolves looked to press early and found joy shown through Ashworth as he won the ball back on the halfway line and drove towards goal just four minutes in. His through ball found Ethan Sunderland on the left side, before Ajax’s defence cleared their lines.
Fletcher Holman was played through on goal after Voice played a through ball bypassing the Ajax defence. Holman drove into the penalty area, but his low effort was stopped by Charlie Setford in the away net just nine minutes in.
Ajax returned the favour with a good chance themselves, as Banel found himself one-on-one with Temple Ojinnaka on the edge of the area and gained a yard and struck towards goal, but Lewys Benjamin stood tall to turn over.
The visitors were close to the opener after 21 minutes with Banel involved again, he picked out an unmarked Nassef Chourak inside the six-yard-box to tap home, however the goal was ruled out for offside.
Banel proved to be Ajax’s talisman throughout the first half and got his reward in the 37th minute, getting the better of his marker just 10 yards from goal before cooly finishing past Benjamin and into the bottom right corner to send Ajax into the break ahead.
Half-time | Wolves 0-1 Ajax
The visitors doubled their lead just 10 minutes after the continuation of play. David Kolokoh found room on the right side of the penalty area to float an inviting cross into Banel who volleyed low and hard to double his scoring for the evening.
Ajax followed their second goal with comfortable spells of possession that kept Wolves in their own half and frustrated the home side.
It worsened for Wolves as Ajax’s dominance was followed by a third goal for the visitors after 65 minutes. Chourak neatly finished off a well-worked goal as his first-time effort got the better of Benjamin at the near post.
Wolves looked to rejuvenate themselves approaching the final 15 minutes when introduced substitutes gave the home side much-needed energy and began to break Ajax’s play up.
It failed to spark any comeback, but Collins’ side showed fight towards the closing stages and halted the scoring to three as Ajax managed the game well to end the contest.
The defeat means Wolves remain winless in the Premier League International Cup after two draws and a defeat, as they prepare to host Valencia on 10th December.
Full-time | Wolves 0-3 Ajax
LINEUPS
Wolves | Benjamin, Ojinnaka (White 77), Sutherland (Chiwome 64), Voice, Pond, Meupiyou (Mabete 46), Barnett, Ashworth (Lopes 77), Holman, Cundle (Rawlings 73), Edozie.
Subs not used | Gracey, Bradbury.
Ajax | Setford, Van de Pavert, Van der Lans (Messori 68), Mokio (Jermoumi 61), Alders, Brandes (Johnson 46), Faberski, Chourak, Kalokoh (Vink 88), Steur (Bounida 61), Banel.
Subs not used | El Hani, Van der Vaart.
Report by Callum Greybanks